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Brooklyn Wisdom Papyrus

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

MEDIUM Papyrus, ink
  • Place Made: Egypt
  • DATES late 6th century B.C.E.
    PERIOD Late Period, end of the Saite Period
    DIMENSIONS Overall: 7 7/8 × 52 1/8 in. (20 × 132.4 cm) a: Glass: 13 x 20 in. (33 x 50.8 cm) a: Object: 9 7/16 x 17 5/16 in. (24 x 44 cm) b: Glass: 13 x 20 in. (33 x 50.8 cm) b: Object: 9 1/16 x 19 11/16 in. (23 x 50 cm) c: Glass: 13 1/16 x 18 11/16 in. (33.2 x 47.5 cm) c: Object: 9 1/4 x 14 in. (23.5 x 35.5 cm) d: Glass: 13 x 14 15/16 in. (33 x 38 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 47.218.135a-e
    CREDIT LINE Bequest of Theodora Wilbour from the collection of her father, Charles Edwin Wilbour
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION 47.218.135: Hieratic Wisdom Text. Five columns of text. Inscribed on recto in small, clear black Hieratic. Six columns of text. The number of lines per columns varies between 16 and 21. The content of the papyrus indicates that it belongs to the genre of “wisdom literature.” Its central theme is the relationship between the servant and the superior. There are an additional 77 (approximately) unplaced fragments. 47.218.135e: A group of 10 fragments with Late Period Hieratic writing. One fragment belongs to 47.218.87a (the Eye Papyrus); the others are likely from different texts, though their small size makes it impossible to determine how many texts they come from.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Brooklyn Wisdom Papyrus, late 6th century B.C.E. Papyrus, ink, Overall: 7 7/8 × 52 1/8 in. (20 × 132.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Theodora Wilbour from the collection of her father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 47.218.135a-e (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.47.218.135a_recto_IMLS_PS5.jpg)
    IMAGE component, recto, CUR.47.218.135a_recto_IMLS_PS5.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010
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     <em>Brooklyn Wisdom Papyrus</em>, late 6th century B.C.E. Papyrus, ink, Overall: 7 7/8 × 52 1/8 in. (20 × 132.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Theodora Wilbour from the collection of her father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 47.218.135a-e (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.47.218.135a_recto_IMLS_PS5.jpg)